Surface profiler

Abstract

A surface profiling apparatus comprises a vehicle with a body having ground engaging wheels for supporting the body. An arm is pivotally mounted on the body at one end of the arm and a sensing wheel is rotatably connected to the arm at the other end thereof. Means for measuring the inclination of the arm relative to the horizontal position and distance measuring means for determining the distance travelled by the body are provided. A computer is included for correlating the distance and inclination data obtained, which results can be stored on a removable solid state memory device for transfer to an external computer for further analysis and calculations.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Surface profiling apparatus, comprising: a support member having a forward support wheel and a rearward support wheel for travel along a surface, the profile of which is to be measured;   a sensing arm, having a longitudinal axis and connected to the support member for pivotal movement relative to the support member about a pivotal axis extending transversely of said longitudinal axis;   a ground engaging wheel at one end of the sensing arm and said forward support wheel being located at the opposite end of said sensing arm, said forward support wheel and said ground engaging wheel being arranged for rotation about rotation axes parallel to said pivotal axis, said forward support wheel being mounted on said support member and being fixed relative to said pivotal axis of said sensing arm, said forward support wheel and said ground engaging wheel being spaced apart longitudinally of the arm by a predetermined distance and arranged for travel along substantially the same line during rectilinear travel of the support member along said surface;   inclination measuring means for measuring the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the sensing arm with respect to the horizontal position;   said pivotal axis being spaced apart in a vertical plane containing the rotation axis of said forward support wheel.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising distance measuring means on the apparatus for determining distance travelled by the support member and wherein said inclination measuring means measures said orientation, responsive to said distance measuring means, at successive intervals substantially equal to the distance between said rotation axes. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising acceleration deriving means on the apparatus for measuring acceleration of the support member during travel along said surface. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means on the apparatus for measuring ambient air temperature. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to claim 4, and further comprising shock absorbing means on said sensing arm for maintaining said ground engaging wheel in contact with said surface. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said forward support wheel is pivotable about a vertical axis for steering the support member. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for locking said forward support wheel in a central position. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a rod on the support member for drawing the support member along said surface.